Sterling, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Sterling is a town
in Windham County
, Connecticut
, United States
. The population was 3,099 at the 2000 census.
on his way from landing at Narragansett Bay
to join George Washington
's forces on the Hudson River
in 1781. A cotton mill was first established in Sterling in 1800. Charles Dow
, of Dow Jones fame, was born in this community. Sterling made world news on 12-09-09, when a Holstein cow was born on a local farm with a white cross on its forehead. A Wisconsin professor said that white markings on the head of Holstein cows are not unusual, though "the shape of a cross is unique". The cow was dubbed "Holy cow".
, the town has a total area of 27.3 square miles (70.7 km²), of which, 27.2 square miles (70.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.29%) is water.
of 2000, there were 3,099 people, 1,116 households, and 835 families residing in the town. The population density
was 113.8 people per square mile (43.9/km²). There were 1,193 housing units at an average density of 43.8 per square mile (16.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.19% White, 0.16% African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races
, and 2.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.32% of the population.
There were 1,116 households out of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.7% were married couples
living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.1% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 36.4% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 104.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $49,167, and the median income for a family was $52,202. Males had a median income of $39,792 versus $26,167 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,679. About 3.8% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over.
A new school called Sterling Community School is the school of the town of Sterling.
As of 2006, Sterling is no longer a sending town for Woodstock Academy
. Plainfield High School
in Plainfield
will become a designated school of the town. Residents are also given the option to send their children to Killingly High School or Ellis Tech. http://www.sterlingct.us/sboe%20budget%20for%20web%20site.htm.
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
in Windham County
Windham County, Connecticut
Windham County is a county located in the northeastern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of 2010, the population was 118,428.The entire county is within the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor, as designated by the National Park Service.-History:Windham...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 3,099 at the 2000 census.
Local History
The town was incorporated in 1794 following approval of the CT Assembly, and was carved from northern part of the Town of Voluntown. Le Comte de Rochambeau, Jean Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, marched through and camped in the town during the American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
on his way from landing at Narragansett Bay
Narragansett Bay
Narragansett Bay is a bay and estuary on the north side of Rhode Island Sound. Covering 147 mi2 , the Bay forms New England's largest estuary, which functions as an expansive natural harbor, and includes a small archipelago...
to join George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's forces on the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
in 1781. A cotton mill was first established in Sterling in 1800. Charles Dow
Charles Dow
Charles Henry Dow was an American journalist who co-founded Dow Jones & Company with Edward Jones and Charles Bergstresser....
, of Dow Jones fame, was born in this community. Sterling made world news on 12-09-09, when a Holstein cow was born on a local farm with a white cross on its forehead. A Wisconsin professor said that white markings on the head of Holstein cows are not unusual, though "the shape of a cross is unique". The cow was dubbed "Holy cow".
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 27.3 square miles (70.7 km²), of which, 27.2 square miles (70.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (0.29%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,099 people, 1,116 households, and 835 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 113.8 people per square mile (43.9/km²). There were 1,193 housing units at an average density of 43.8 per square mile (16.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.19% White, 0.16% African American, 0.71% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.32% of the population.
There were 1,116 households out of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the town the population was spread out with 28.1% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 36.4% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 7.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 104.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $49,167, and the median income for a family was $52,202. Males had a median income of $39,792 versus $26,167 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $19,679. About 3.8% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over.
Notable locations
- Dorrance InnDorrance InnDorrance Inn, also known as Samuel Dorrance House, is a historic inn at 748 Plainfield Pike in Sterling, Connecticut.It is along the march route taken by French commander Rochambeau's troops en route to Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781 and during its return trip in 1782.It was listed on the National...
is a historic inn located at 748 Plainfield Pike and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. - March Route of Rochambeau's Army: Plainfield Pike
- Sterling Hill Historic District (Plainfield and Sterling, Connecticut)Sterling Hill Historic District (Plainfield and Sterling, Connecticut)The Sterling Hill Historic District in Plainfield and Sterling, Connecticut is a historic district that was listed on the National Register in 1986.-References:...
was added to the National Register in 1986.
Notable people, past and present
- Charles DowCharles DowCharles Henry Dow was an American journalist who co-founded Dow Jones & Company with Edward Jones and Charles Bergstresser....
(1851–1902), journalist and founder of the Dow Jones & CompanyDow Jones & CompanyDow Jones & Company is an American publishing and financial information firm.The company was founded in 1882 by three reporters: Charles Dow, Edward Jones, and Charles Bergstresser. Like The New York Times and the Washington Post, the company was in recent years publicly traded but privately...
was born in Sterling. - Allen Cleveland LewisAllen Cleveland LewisAllen Cleveland Lewis was a Chicago citizen who left his estate in order to create Lewis Institute.-Biography:Allen Cleveland Lewis was bown in Sterling, Connecticut. He lived in Elgin, Illinois as a young man, where he a hardware merchant. He married and had one son. At the age of twenty months,...
(1821–1877), founder of the Lewis Institute (later the Illinois Institute of TechnologyIllinois Institute of TechnologyIllinois Institute of Technology, commonly called Illinois Tech or IIT, is a private Ph.D.-granting university located in Chicago, Illinois, with programs in engineering, science, psychology, architecture, business, communications, industrial technology, information technology, design, and law...
) was born in Sterling. - Tom "T-Bone" Stankus, musician.
Education
The town operates the Sterling Memorial School for grades Kindergarten through 8.A new school called Sterling Community School is the school of the town of Sterling.
As of 2006, Sterling is no longer a sending town for Woodstock Academy
Woodstock Academy
Woodstock Academy, founded in 1801, is an endowed academy or independent high school for students located in Woodstock, Connecticut, United States....
. Plainfield High School
Plainfield High School (Connecticut)
Plainfield High School is located in Central Village, Connecticut. Its mascot is Pesty the Panther, making them the Plainfield Panthers. Their school colors are black and orange....
in Plainfield
Plainfield, Connecticut
Plainfield is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 14,619 at the 2000 census. The town comprises four villages: Plainfield , Moosup , Wauregan , and Central Village . Each village has their own respective United States Post Office and fire department...
will become a designated school of the town. Residents are also given the option to send their children to Killingly High School or Ellis Tech. http://www.sterlingct.us/sboe%20budget%20for%20web%20site.htm.